Metroplex Health System is holding a donation drive for toys, clothing and other items for homeless students in two local school districts for the second consecutive year.

Metroplex employees and volunteers gathered in the lobby of the behavioral health center in Killeen on Thursday to kick off the drive, which runs through Dec. 16.

Those employees and volunteers will be collecting goods to give to homeless students in the Killeen Independent School District’s Homeless Awareness Response Program, and the Copperas Cove Independent School District’s McKinney-Vento Program.

“These are children who have no home, or don’t have a fixed residence and have to move around a lot,” said Christina Wilson, an educator with HARP. “We are happy to be working with Metroplex to help these kids.”

Currently there are about 1,200 homeless students total in both school districts.

During last year’s drive, Metroplex employees collected more than 1,167 pounds of school supplies for homeless students.

“We know there are a lot of kids in need, and we are looking forward to being able to help them again this year,” said Margaret Alexander, the drive chairwoman and business development and marketing specialist for Metroplex. “This year we are doubling our efforts.”

The items the group is hoping to collect this year includes new toys, coats, hats, gloves, clothing, blankets, hygiene items, gift cards and cash donations.

Donations can be dropped off at the Metroplex Behavioral Health Center at 2407 S. Clear Creek Drive in the Metroplex Hospital main lobby.

Contact Chris McGuinness at chrism@kdhnews.com or (254) 501-7568. Follow him on Twitter at ChrismKDH.